Can China Kick its Coal Habit?

June 27, 2016

Coal currently dominates China’s energy mix, and it figures to remain the country’s primary energy source until at least 2040, according to new research from the International Energy Agency. An upcoming Paulson Institute study explains how alternative power sources, such as renewable energy, have faced various roadblocks, including gaining connectivity to the power grid. The paper will also outline a strategy for China to integrate its rapidly expanding renewable power capacity. For comparison, China’s solar and wind energy capacity increased by 74% and 34%, respectively, in 2015, while coal consumption dropped by 3.7%. If China can overcome its renewables integration hurdle, coal’s dominance might be more short-lived than expected.